<p>As I said earlier, “best” is not clear. Milton, for instance, boasts great numbers, but is 50% day students. For that reason alone, we did not consider it a candidate when DS applied.</p>
<p>Then, if u are passionate about equestrian pursuits and the “top” school doesn’t have horses, then is it really a “best” school? Fit matters…</p>
<p>@GMTplus7</p>
<p>My list of best schools outside HADES is generally in line with yours. One question… Where did you get those SSAT scores? Are they most up-to-date numbers? For example, Thacher’s SSAT is 87% according to its website based on the 2012-13 class, not 90%. Just out of curiosity…</p>
<p>My list would be:</p>
<p>Groton
Choate
L’ville
Middlesex
Thacher</p>
<p>I collected the stats from boardingschoolreview.com. I appreciate that the stats may not be the most up to date as they are reported from a third party rather than from the school’s website itself, but I would imagine that the numbers are in the ballpark. </p>
<p>In the case of the Thacher numbers you mention, there appears to be a 3% discrepancy. That would not affect my opinion on whether to consider a school the way a 30% discrepancy would.</p>
<p>In the future i will be more vigilent about citing the source when I post numbers.</p>
<p>I go by best matriculation for school orders. So other than HADES I would put the other gladchemms that arent hades and st. albans school</p>
<p>@GMTplus7</p>
<p>I agree. A mere 3%p is not going to change a thing. What I found interesting is the relationship between SSAT, % accepted and the SAT scores on your numbers. </p>
<p>I know SAT score is not the only variable for college matriculation. But given that the hard data are the only quantifiable measure for it, its importance shouldn’t be downplayed either. </p>
<p>In that sense, I noticed that some schools showing lower SSAT, higher acceptance rate but higher SAT scores are interesting. There are some schools that are not frequently mentioned on CC and have similar stats. (Schools like Webb in Ca) How would we interpret this? (I am not intending to be analysis peralysis, but just want to see if there is a true hidden jem in that regard)</p>
<p>@patron, I also wondered why there isn’t a closer correlation for the schools, between SSAT & SAT scores, especially since studies have shown that the kids w the high SSAT scores also turn out to be the kids with the high SAT scores.</p>
<p>If you are looking to find a list of the top private schools in US you should look at any of the “Ten Schools.” [Ten</a> Schools](<a href=“http://www.tenschools.org/]Ten”>http://www.tenschools.org/)
These schools are:
Choate Rosemary Hall
Deerfield Academy
The Hill School
The Hotchkiss School
The Lawrenceville School
The Loomis Chaffee School
Phillips Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy
St. Paul’s School
The Taft School</p>
<p>MBVLoveless , thank you for clarifying for me. Blair is a beautiful school, but academically it just can not be compared with the others in the list above, plus milton, middlesex, Groton, Thacher…</p>
<p>@IMG please read the first post before responding</p>
<p>Cate School has a predicted acceptance rate of around 18% this year, and it has one of the highest SAT’s of the non-HADES. It and Thacher have been referred to as the Andover/Exeter of the west coast, so I’d give it a look (not to mention its campus).</p>
<p>To the OP, the ‘best’ school, in my opinion, is the school that takes the student the greatest distance traveled - starting from where they are on the first day, to where they end up on the last day. Some kids will do well anywhere, but many do best in a more specific kind of environment - a certain culture on campus, a certain size school, a certain set of offerings, being a big fish in a little pond or a little fish in a big pond, etc. Saying a school is ‘best’ solely on any one number such as SSAT or SAT average is a shortcut that just doesn’t work. There really is no substitute for the hard work of getting to know the schools, and knowing what kind of environment fits you best.</p>
<p>For our child, the best school was Blair. We did our research carefully and extensively and it paid off. Our student is thriving, learning by leaps and bounds, growing, finding joy in the process, and yes, happy. We are confident that this particular school is where, academically, socially, and extracurricularly, our child will cover the ‘greatest distance traveled’. We are confident our child will end up at an excellent college, but more importantly, the right fit when the time comes. YMMV. </p>
<p>There are lots of great schools out there that can offer a great education, and each has its own culture and personality. I hope the kids here are independent enough and know themselves well enough to find the school that is right for them. I’ve been glad to see more posts lately that step away from acronyms and delve deeper into the specifics of the schools themselves. Hopefully come March 10, there will be fewer kids who end up with no admittances because they applied to only a small handful of the most bandied about names.</p>
<p>But for certain kids, the best fits are the brand name schools. You can’t tell them to apply to hidden gems, enroll (having been denied at the brand names), and end up miserable there.</p>
<p>@Thisonekid,</p>
<p>I agree with you. Cate and Thacher are two best schools in the West Coast. My son applied to both. We did not apply to HADES or any other New England school. Their atmosphere, I felt, was somewhat different from that of HADES. A bit more relaxed but equally rigorous academics. I loved both campuses and people there. </p>
<p>My son just received an acceptance package from Thacher today, which was a big joy to us. As we did not apply to many schools and those two schools’ acceptance rate is 13% (Thacher), 18% (Cate) respectively, we were a bit worried that we did not broaden our scope. While we are waiting for a decision from Cate, we are very much relieved now. I wish all the best to those who are waiting for M10.</p>
<p>@Patron CONGRATS! That’s a big deal! My 10 Year old daughter wants to be a rebel. She is Anti HADES and she is set on Thacher. I agree with @24 The names don’t mean as much as fit. If your kid is drowning at a HADES and you hold on because of a name then shame on you. If your child can thrive at a Blair or Kent School then their options won’t be far off than a top HADES student.</p>
<p>@Patronyork AWESOME!!! I’m sure he’ll be a great addition wherever he goes!</p>
<p>@Patron, congratulations! AceNtheHole, I hope your D has her dream come true when her time comes.</p>
<p>@AceNtheHole,</p>
<p>Thank you for your insightful note. My siblings all went to the BS of HADES caliber in NE. We just did not want my son to be so far away from us. (We live in CA). Besides, we liked the atmosphere of Cate and Thacher so much. So, it was an easy move for us to not include HADES schools. All the best to your daughter. </p>
<p>@ThisOneKid,</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your advice on Cate. I appreciate it. I hope my son learns something more than the college prep and academics. And both schools are well suited for that, I believe.</p>
<p>I don’t know what this anti-HADES mentality is. Applying to a school just because it’s not a brand name is the same as applying exclusively to brand name schools.</p>
<p>@MBV Please follow the dialogue. No one is anti HADES. What we are saying is that if you have a child that could thrive in a less competitive environment or a school that is a better overall fit for the child then let them be. My DS is at a HADES School and he is thriving. Best decision we could have made for HIM. That doesn’t mean it’s the best for other children. My 10 year old wants to blaze her own trail and go to Thacher. I have two good friends that are AO’s at Cate, would love to send a child there. Parents get caught in a name. Kids just want to learn. I met kids at Loomis that turned down PA/PE because of fit with no regrets. The bottom line is to make a decision that will benefit you and your child for the next 4/3/ or 2 years.</p>
<p>A 10-year-old already considering boarding school? That’s ambition right there.</p>